Christmas in February - DIY Spun Cotton Ornaments

18 February

Welcome back to 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments for Christmas in February!


If you are just now hearing about this, let me catch you up... we are creating a retro, old-school ornament each month of 2023. These are the kinds of ornaments that you may remember from your childhood Christmas trees!


Just think... if you created only 2 of each month's ornaments, you'll have 24 new, adorable ornaments for your tree in December 😃


And to make things even more fun, each month I'll have a share thread on my Facebook page where we can all share our finished ornaments. I would love to see yours!


If you want to catch up, we started with Christmas in January.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

This month we are creating some adorable little retro Santa ornaments and I'm sharing TWO ways to make your own spun cotton balls for the head!


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Don't let this supply list scare you, you probably already have some of it, and a quick trip to the craft store and you'll have everything you need! I've also linked to some options in the list below.


Supplies Needed:


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Here is the video tutorial (NOTE: skip to minute 13:41 in the video for the cheater spun cotton head; skip to minute 19:23 for the body instructions {if you are using a bead or clay for the head}).



I did not include the traditional spun cotton head instructions here, those instructions are included at the beginning of the video.


Step One - Unroll the cotton balls

Unroll the cotton balls. You will use these to create Santa's spun cotton head and beard and mustache.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Two - Create the head

You have several options for creating the head. 

  • For the traditional method of creating a spun cotton head, watch the video tutorial (it is at the beginning)
  • For the cheater version of the spun cotton head, either watch the video tutorial starting at minute 13:41 or follow the steps below.
  • Use a wood bead that you'll paint.
  • Use clay or a felted wool ball.

Cheater Spun Cotton Heah Instructions:


You'll need a 1" wood ball with a hole on one side. Put one of the toothpicks into the hole. Coat the ball with white glue or Mod Podge and then wrap the opened cotton ball around it until it is covered.

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments
Use the paintbrush and watered-down craft glue or Mod Podge to coat the cotton-covered bead. Start with a light dabbing motion to help prevent the cotton from sticking at first.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Once you have the whole thing coated with glue or Mod Podge, add another layer of cotton and glue. Continue until it is completely covered and you can no longer see the bead.


Use the plastic spoon to help smooth the cotton by twirling the head inside the spoon for a nice smooth surface.


Allow drying time overnight.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Step Three - Paint the head

Once the spun cotton head is completely dry, paint it with flesh-colored paint (you can use tan or light brown paint for a super cute Hispanic or African-American Santa!)


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Step Four - Create the base and the body

Cut out a 2.5" circle from thin cardboard. A cereal box or similar works great.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Use the utility knife to slice off one side of the 1 1/2" styrofoam ball so that it will sit flat on the cardboard circle.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Paint the cardboard circle white.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Cut a circle the same size from a scrap of coordinating scrapbook paper and glue it to the bottom of the circle. (Oops! I forgot to take a picture of this step so this is the bottom of the finished ornament)


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Coat the styrofoam ball with white glue and then add glitter in the color of your choice. I am making a red Santa so I'm using red glitter (you can stick the other toothpick into the bottom and use it to hold onto and twirl the ball to help you get the whole thing covered with glitter).


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Break the end off of the toothpick that's in the head so that it's just long enough to poke down into the body and won't go all the way through.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Then poke it down into the glittered body.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Five - Create the hat


Use a piece of felt and coordinating thread to create the hat. You can use hot glue if you prefer.

Roll the head up in the felt to get the correct size, snip where it just begins to overlap, then cut a triangle (not too tall, make it short and squatty).

Stitch up the triangle and then turn right-side-out.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Glue the hat to the head.



Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Six - Add the hat trim


Use a piece of the white chenille stem/pipe cleaner to create the hat trim. Wrapping it around something like a spool of thread helps to get a nice round shape.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Step Seven - Add the base and create the arms


Glue what you have created so far onto the little cardboard base.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Use another piece of the chenille stem/pipe cleaner to create arms.


Bend the ends into little loops then bend the stem in half and attach it with glue at the back of the neck.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


The pom-pom on the hat is created with a small piece of leftover cotton ball rolled up (or a regular pom-pom).


I had to cut my hat down because it was too long so then I needed clamps to cinch it up.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments



Step Eight - Create the belt and scarf


Use a piece of skinny trim (rick-rack, ribbon, tinsel garland or pipe cleaner, etc.)


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


You only need to tack it with glue at the back and the front.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Add a sequin for the belt buckle. You could use many different things if you don't have a sequin... a bead, a scrap of paper, a scrap of cardboard painted gold, etc.


Add a scarf with a piece of tinsel garland, glittery pipe cleaner, or a scrap of felt or fabric. If you are using a wired garland or a pipe cleaner you can just twist it around his neck to hold it in place. Otherwise, just add a dab of glue to hold it.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Nine - Add the beard, mustache, and nose


Use some of the leftover cotton balls to create a beard and mustache.


The beard is just a small triangle of cotton that you shape with your fingers. Twist the end between your fingers (moistening them if needed) to create a point.


The mustache is formed by rolling a strip of cotton in between your fingers. Then twist the ends tight and push them toward the center to puff up the middle a little bit. Pinch the middle between your fingers to indent it.
Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Glue them together and then to Santa's face making sure to leave enough space for eyes and eyebrows.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Add the nose right above the mustache. Again, you can use other things for the nose if you don't have a rhinestone... like a red or pink bead, a tiny pom-pom, paint, a small circle of red paper, etc.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Ten - Add the eyes and eyebrows


Use the end of a paintbrush to dot the eyes with black craft paint.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Use a fine-point Sharpie to draw the eyebrows. (You can use black paint for both or the Sharpie for both just be very careful trying to draw eyes with a pen if your surface is very lumpy.)


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Eleven - Glitter the base

Use a paintbrush to brush on some white craft glue all over the base and add white glitter.



Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Twelve - Add a Hanger and give him something to hold if desired

Use some matching thread or a piece of twine to add a hanger. Just use a single stitch to add the hanger toward the center of the hat for optimal hanging. (If you add it too close to the pom-pom end, he will lean too far forward).


Add something to his hand. You can tie something like a jingle bell to his hand or glue on another little trinket (a tiny package, wreath, candy cane, etc.)


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Thirteen - Sign and date the bottom!!



Don't forget to sign your work for future generations!!


Now he's done!!


You can stitch or glue down the top of his hat for a cute look too.


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Now that you know how you can create several for your tree!! 😃


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


Step Fourteen: Share in the Facebook thread!!

Don't forget to share your ornaments on the Facebook thread!


Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments


12 Months of Christmas Ornaments:



Other Ideas and Options:

  1. Use a small vintage ball ornament for the body and eliminate the glitter.
  2. Use a wood bead, felted ball, clay ball, or small styrofoam ball for the head.
  3. Use this idea to create a gnome (give him a longer, fuller beard and pull his hat all the way down to his mustache and have his nose partially covered with the hat, no need for eyes!)
  4. Use this idea to create a snowman (leave off the hat or give him a top hat)

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, I'd love it if you'd share it!


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Christmas in February - 12 Months of Christmas Ornaments

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  1. So cute and so creative. I love the beard and mustache!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Vikki! It was sure fun to make but man-oh-man... it was a bear to record and write the tutorial... I'll have to have simpler ornaments for the months to come! lol

      Delete
  2. Oh, my favorite part was the mustache! reminded me SOO much of Colonel Sanders of Kentucky fried chicken fame! I immediately started squirreling--you could make them with features to look like grandchildren! I love the gnome idea! I loved the different colors you used. With pointed ears added, they could be elves!!! Now for some ambition!! And people think I am crazy for saving the cotton that comes in the vitamin bottles! I am ready to roll!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Kathy, I don't think you're crazy... You and me lady... same page!! haha! I hope you'll make some! Be sure to share if you do!

      Delete

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